The University’s Whiteknights campus will be host to many avid runners from our community in Reading and beyond as, once again, we are delighted to form part of the route for the Reading Half Marathon. The event is the UK’s second biggest half-marathon with approximately 18,000 people set to run approximately 21 kilometres, on Sunday 22 March 2015. The event is the UK’s second biggest half-marathon with approximately 16,000 people set to run approximately 21 kilometres, on Sunday 22 March.

The route begins at Green Park and runs through the University campus, entering at the Pepper Lane entrance and following the road to the right past Food Bioscience, RSSL, Chemistry and Archaeology, before turning right past the front of Whiteknights House, exiting at the main Shinfield Road entrance by the SportsPark.

Although the campus is not an official spectator area, those wishing to view the run as it passes through the site are encouraged. However, please be advised that there will be no vehicular access to/from the Whiteknights campus throughout the morning, from 7:45 to 13:00.

A number of roads around the town, including those close to the University, will be closed for periods of the day and a number of bus routes will be affected. Please visit the official Reading Half Marathon website for information on the full route and further details of road closures and disruptions and the Reading Buses website for details of changed bus routes.

Are you thinking of doing a Masters or Research degree? Have you considered continuing your studies abroad? If so, you might be interested in these two fully-funded scholarships to study in mainland China from 2015.

In order to promote the mutual understanding, cooperation and exchanges in politics, economy, culture, education, and trade between China and other countries, the Chinese government has set up scholarship programs to sponsor international students to study and research at Chinese universities.

We have been given two scholarships for University of Reading students who are keen to undertake Masters (2-3 years) or PhD (4-6 years) studies in Mainland China from 2015.

Each scholarship covers registration, tuition, medical insurance and accommodation. Scholarship holders will be responsible for covering the cost of the international airfare which is not included.

The application deadline is Tuesday24 March 2015

Eligibility:

Non-Chinese passport holder

Final year of study at Reading and looking for postgraduate opportunities

Willingness to commit to entire duration of study in China

Willingness to undertake medical check to prove good health for Chinese visa application

How to apply:

Students applying for scholarships should submit an email to:international@reading.ac.uk with the subject: Chinese Government Scholarship. The email should include the following information:

Full name

Date of birth

Current programme of study at University of Reading.

Contact email and phone number

Details on what subject area you would like to study in China, which university you are interested in attending?

The full application process is quite substantial and more details can be found by emailing us at the address above.

Use your experience as a student to make a difference – become a student mentor with the STaR programme

This week sees the launch of a campaign to recruit hundreds of students to be a friendly face and the voice of experience for next year’s new intake of undergraduates. We are looking for students from (almost*) every subject, so if you are in the first or second year (or other non-final year) and would like to make a difference to those around you, as well as improve your CV, keep reading and find out about the new STaR (Supporting Transitions at Reading) mentoring programme.

As a STaR mentor you would use your own experience, topped up with a bit of extra training, to give friendly informal tips to new students studying the same subject as you. You would aim to help them settle into your Department or School, navigate the complexities of the University, and get involved in university life. You are not expected to be an expert or to take the place of a parent, a personal tutor or a professional counsellor, but simply to be the voice of someone who was in their position not so long ago and has survived.

People become mentors for many different reasons but here are some really good ones

You will make the world a better and easier place for someone

You will learn a lot about people, what makes them tick and how others see the world around us

You will learn a lot about yourself in the process

It is a great addition to your CV and It will count as 20 volunteer hours towards the RED Award

See the FAQs for a better insight into what exactly a STaR mentor will do.

Mentoring is one of those simple things in life that can actually have a tremendously powerful effect. A few words of experience here and there can really make the world of difference. Sign up to be a STaR mentor and be part of something that will make that difference for hundreds of students next October.

* Henley Business School, Pharmacy, TAEDS and Film Theatre and Television run their own mentoring programmes, please contact them directly, or if you are studying these subjects and would like to be a mentor we will pass on your application to the organisers in these Schools.

It’s International Women’s Day on Sunday 8 March, a global celebration of people, initiatives and activities that drive greater awareness of women’s equality. To celebrate this the University is pleased to present the 2015 Edith Morley Lecture on Thursday 5 March in honour of Professor Edith Morley, believed to be the first woman to be awarded a professorship in the UK here at Reading in 1908.

Edith was made professor of English Language and stayed in her position until 1940. She described the battle for fair dealing for women in public and professional life in her unpublished memoirs, where she also wrote about her appointment as the first woman to obtain the title of professor at a British University. Professor Morley believed that women should have an equal place in academia and society, and was an inspiring and motivating force for the young people around her.

This year’s event will celebrate the successes of our female graduates: ITV’s Good Morning Britain weather presenter Laura Tobin (Meteorology and Physics, 2003) and Radio 1 film critic Rhianna Dhillon (English and Film & Theatre, 2011, Alumnus of the Year 2013) will form our small panel of highly achieving graduates in this ‘in conversation’ style event.

Based on the theme of the female role model in 2015, Laura and Rhianna will talk about role models in contemporary society, share their views, thoughts and ideas with the audience and discuss what this means to them and their careers.

Event details:

Date: Thursday 5 March
Time: 19:30 (doors open at 19:00)
Admission is free, places are limited. Book a place